Tag: rick boogs

Former WWE wrestler Rick Boogs open to wrestling return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It’s been nearly three years since he last wrestled, but Eric Bugenhagen is open to returning to the ring if the right opportunity comes along.

Bugenhagen (formerly known as Rick Boogs in WWE) is back in the spotlight as a cast member on Amazon Prime’s new “American Gladiators” reboot. Appearing on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Bugenhagen had a change of tune when asked about his wrestling future. He previously did not want to take any indie bookings and even avoided conventions because he had a “sour flavor” in his mouth after being released by WWE in 2023. But he now sees an in-ring return as a real possibility.

“I don’t think so, man,” Bugenhagen responded when asked if his time in wrestling is over.

Van Vliet then questioned why we haven’t seen Bugenhagen in the ring since departing WWE.

“That was very intentional, too. Don’t get it twisted, people. I got many things thrown at me,” Bugenhagen said. “And I was like, no, I don’t want anything. Mainly because I was like, I want to see if I can thrive on my own, which I have. But that’s the thing now. It’s like, okay, maybe that was a bit of pride and ego, but I’ve proved it. And now it’s like, but you know what? Pro wrestling is fun. So if the opportunity is right, absolutely.”

Bugenhagen is best remembered for being Shinsuke Nakamura’s guitar-playing hype man in WWE. He fell out of favor in the company after Paul “Triple H” Levesque took over creative, with Bugenhagen feeling like Levesque wasn’t a fan of his goofy character.

“I think that this was the issue with Hunter with me, is that I was so over the top, goofy,” he said. “But it’s like, ‘You gotta kick his ass. You gotta back it up. You can’t just be goofy.’ You know, it’s like, what did he always say? ‘Pop fly, you can’t miss it.'”

Bugenhagen said he especially enjoyed competing in tag team matches during his WWE tenure. Learning to cut promos at the Performance Center helped him prepare for his new “American Gladiators” role, which is Bugenhagen’s main focus right now. He did not seem to think a potential return to the ring would happen before the end of 2026.

The “American Gladiators” series is hosted by WWE star The Miz and also has AEW wrestlers Wardlow and Kamille on the cast, along with indie names Jessie Godderz and J-Rod (Jessica Roden).

Wardlow’s name on American Gladiators revealed

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

It has been two full years now since Wardlow wrestled a match in AEW, but fans will soon be seeing him elsewhere under a different name.

It was announced last summer that Wardlow would be competing on the new edition of American Gladiators. Now Wardlow has shared a video showing each of the Gladiators’ identities, including his own: Fang.

“Wardlow is officially FANG!” he wrote. “One of the new American Gladiators which debuts April 17th on Amazon Prime Video.”

“Very excited for this,” he added. “I grew up watching this show so little me is very proud to say, I am an American Gladiator! Pretty wild. Hope y’all are ready!”

Wardlow is not the only wrestling personality who will be appearing on the new Gladiators show:

  • Jessica “J-Rod” Roden, former OVW Women’s Champion, will be competing as Supernova.
  • Kailey “Kamille” Latimer, former NWA World Women’s Champion who has also appeared for AEW, will be competing as Hurricane.
  • Eric “Rick Boogs” Bugenhagen, a two-time former WWE 24/7 champion who is perhaps best known as Shinsuke Nakamura’s personal guitarist, will be competing as The Bull.
  • Jessie “Mr. Pectacular” Godderz, former two-time TNA World Tag Team champion and a regular name in the Big Brother franchise, will be competing as Steel.
  • Mike Mizanin, a two-time WWE champion, will be hosting as (presumably) The Miz.

Wardlow was once one of AEW’s most heavily pushed stars, going on long undefeated streaks and winning the TNT championship three times. His last match, however, was in March of 2024, an unsuccessful challenge of Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship. In August of 2025, Wardlow joined the Don Callis Family at AEW’s Forbidden Door. He reportedly tore his pec in that segment and has not been seen in AEW since.

Wardlow, Rick Boogs & Kamille among five wrestlers set for ‘American Gladiators’ reboot

Posted on by Josh Nason

Two AEW wrestlers that fell off the radar and a former WWE competitor were among five pro wrestlers announced for the American Gladiators reboot on Amazon Prime.

First broken by the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, AEW’s Wardlow and Kamille, former WWE wrestler Rick Boogs, and Jessie Godderz and J-Rod of OVW will be part of the 16-person Gladiators crew that will soon have unique names like the original cast.

WWE’s The Miz was already announced as the host last month. Revealed Thursday, sports personality Chris Rose will be the lead play-by-play man with former BET 106 & Park co-host Rocsi Diaz as sideline reporter.

When the reboot begins filming and its anticipated release date are unknown.

The 37-year-old Wardlow hasn’t wrestled since a March 2024 challenge of then-AEW World Champion Samoa Joe. It was previously reported he was dealing with a knee injury and he also pulled out of an indie match set for this past April.

Kamille disappeared from AEW after her on-screen union with Mercedes Mone ended. Her last match came at last October’s Fright Night Dynamite, and both she and Tony Khan have been mum on her absence after just six matches in the promotion since last July.

Boogs was released by WWE in September 2023 and hasn’t wrestled since while Godderz and J-Rod are OVW regulars with J-Rod also frequently working indies. Godderz is also a two-time veteran of the Big Brother reality show.

WWE was previously set to partner with MGM on an American Gladiators reboot in 2021, but the project never came to be.

Daily Update: LA Knight, Vikingo, Rick Boogs

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Topics covered in this loaded issue:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • WWE cuts in the office and of talent
  • The surprise cut of Mustafa Ali that clearly wasn’t planned in advance
  • Why the releases were done and how they were picked
  • Who has the most potential to go to AEW
  • The employees meeting and what was said
  • The SmackDown television deal with USA and the entire landscape of television in 2025 and what it could be
  • Why the stock dropped so dramatically
  • How much less is Vince McMahon worth than was projected just two weeks ago
  • The history of prime time shows on NBC
  • The return of Dwayne Johnson
  • What storyline was originally created for The Rock
  • More major office cuts
  • Noteworthy business notes on both UFC and WWE including revenue, profits and how the companies are similar and different
  • The life and times of Terry Funk
  • A look at his craziest ideas
  • Funk’s different roles in wrestling
  • Mick Foley and Tommy Dreamer comment on Funk
  • Funk’s questioning of his past
  • How Funk played the part in creating a 47-year-old institution in wrestling
  • The most famous Terry Funk retirement match
  • The Hogan-Terry Funk hotel room story
  • Funk’s first trip to Japan
  • Funk’s legendary Japanese matches
  • The formation of All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • The roles of the Funks in Amarillo
  • Doing police work
  • Funk’s WWF run
  • The Amarillo territory
  • Terry as the brother of the world champion
  • Death of Dory Funk Sr.
  • Terry wins the NWA world title
  • Why Terry Funk never challenged Bob Backlund for the WWF title
  • Highlights of the world title run
  • Terry Funk vs. Dusty Rhodes and the never ending storyline
  • Terry Funk in the movies and television
  • The wrestling war in Japan
  • Funk goes to FMW against Onita
  • Arena Mexico anniversary show
  • New books available from us
  • The match that made news all over the world this past week
  • UFC Noche coverage of Shevchenko vs. Grasso
  • Lots of notes on the scoring of the main event
  • Deaths of Emile Dupree and Bart Sawyer
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of the past week
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Ospreay vs. Marufuji
  • More on AEW television negotiations
  • More AEW major shows over the next year
  • PPV updated numbers
  • Lots of new major UFC fights
  • Raw has even greater competition this year
  • Los Angeles Times story on Vince McMaon
  • WWE goes to Australia for Elimination Chamber
  • XFL/USFL merger talks
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • WWE house show coverage

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Sunday Update

  • Bryan Alvarez and I will be back tonight talking all the news of the past several days and there has been a ton of it. The weekend WOR with Garrett Gonzales talking the business news and the past week’s Observer are up on the site now for subscribers.
  • I did an episode of Talk is Jericho after the death of Terry Funk that is now available.
  • The Los Angeles Times had a front page story yesterday on Vince McMahon, some of which was covered in this week’s WON.
  • We have four new books released early for the Christmas season that are available on Amazon. There are two on the year 1989 with the WONs that are not available on the site due to the fact they were done on a typewriter. Additionally, we have books on 2000 which includes the full Observers for that year as well as a yearbook with all the major news stories of the year written as the year was going on.
  • El Hijo del Vikingo didn’t wrestle at last night’s AAA show in Mexico City. He was to defend the AAA Mega title against Komander but instead, they had a match for the AAA Cruiserweight title that Rey Fenix vacated some time back as he couldn’t go to Mexico for a long time to establish residency in the U.S. Komander won a multi-person match to win that championship.
  • Nothing from WWE this past week, nor the cuts of talent or any of the news from SmackDown rights, cracked the top 20 in Google searches for this week. Yesterday’s UFC show didn’t either. The only related thing that did was Hulk Hogan was No. 20 today due to getting married.

WWE

  • On Saturday, WWE had its third biggest U.S. house show of 2023 as far as attendance for a sold-out show in Palm Desert, CA. After no sellouts since June, there have been sold-out shows on the West Coast the past two weekends. Here’s the results, courtesy of Shannon Walsh:

    Becky Lynch defeated Tiffany Stratton to retain the NXT Women’s title with the Manhandle slam; Gunther defeated Chad Gable to retain the WWE Intercontinental title after a power bomb; MVP and Omos came out for a VIP Lounge segment with Cody Rhodes as a guest. Dominik Mysterio came out and this led to a street fight; Cody Rhodes defeated Dominik Mysterio with the Cross Rhodes. MVP and Omos both interfered. Omos went to spear Rhodes and crashed into a table and then Rhodes used the Cross Rhodes on Dominik; Bronson Reed defeated Otis with the Tsunami; IYO SKY retained the WWE Women’s title in a three-way over Asuka and Charlotte Flair; Seth Rollins defeated The Miz after a curb stomp to retain the WWE World Heavyweight title

  • LA Knight was off the Saturday show due to COVID-19 after missing Friday’s SmackDown. It was notable that WWE announced ahead of the doors open that Knight was off the show and offered refunds. Normally, WWE will only announce a no show if it’s a Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins-level wrestler which tells you how highly they consider Knight. WWE also told media outlets Friday night about Knight and I can’t recall that being done in the past either. I don’t know if this is a new policy with the new owners because obviously in any other form of entertainment you would tell the fans and media in advance about a star not appearing. (Thanks to Jose Gonzalez)
  • Tiffany Stratton is expected to be on Raw tomorrow night to hype her rematch with Lynch that takes place on 9/30 at the No Mercy show in Bakersfield, CA. Lynch is supposed to be back at NXT this week after drawing big ratings for the show the past two weeks.  
  • Also on Tuesday’s NXT show: a contract signing for No Mercy with Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov, a strap match with Dijak vs. Eddy Thorpe, Josh Briggs vs. Baron Corbin, Butch vs. Joe Coffey with the winner facing Noam Dar for the Global Heritage Cup at No Mercy, Joe Gacy vs. Trick Williams, Gigi Dolin vs. Blair Davenport, and Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs Lucien Price & Bronco Nima.
  • Rick Boogs claimed that he was let go “due to a backstage political power play” and would release the details when the time is right. I wouldn’t expect him to say anything for at least 90 days as far as what he believed to be the details.
  • Undertaker is bringing his 1 deadMAN show to Perth, Australia, on the weekend of the Elimination Chamber show in late-February.
  • After Friday’s SmackDown sellout in Glendale, AZ, they announced a 3/1 SmackDown at the Desert Diamond Arena. It’s very smart when you have a sellout crowd, announce the next show at the event and then start selling tickets immediately after the show.

Japan

  • The overseas matches we have heard raves about this past week are today’s Will Ospreay vs. Yota Tsuji match from New Japan’s Destruction in Kobe as well as today’s DDT match with Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mao. As you’ve probably seen, Don Callis was in Japan with Takeshita and cut a promo about Takeshita being “the Alpha” followed by Chris Jericho appearing via video to challenge Takeshita to a singles match on 11/12 at Sumo Hall. Jericho working DDT is a surprise since he had been working for New Japan. Also a surprise is that singles match taking place in Japan and not on an AEW major show, although they can always rematch it in the U.S. Another match heavily praised was the Yuma Aoyagi vs. Ryuki Honda Triple Crown title match on yesterday’s All Japan show at Korakuen Hall.
  • The Stardom Five Star Grand Prix finals are on PPV on 9/30.

Other Wrestling

  • wXw Femme Fatales from yesterday in Oberhausen, Germany: Hayn b Rina Yamashita by DQ, Nicole Matthews b Calypso, Baby Allison b Michelle Green, Anita Vaughn b Ivy Kovasky, Regina Rodendahl b Julia, Ava Everett b Devlyn Macrabe to win the German Wrestling Federation title in a wXw vs. GWF title vs. title match, Nicole Matthews b Hyan to win the tournament and a shot at Everett.
  • Here’s the debut show for the Sukeban promotion, an all-Japanese women’s group that debuted in New York on Thursday. The show aired live on TikTok.
  • Jerry Lawler did his first major public appearance since his stroke at the Memphis Comic Expo today. He now has a full mustache and a grey beard.
  • Pro Wrestling EVE will have a SHE-1 tournament on 10/8 with 16 women. Announced so far as Maya Yukihi, Charlie Morgan, Jetta, Alex Windsor, Kasey, Safire Reed, Nina Samuels, Chantal Jordan, Millie McKenzie, Emersyn Jayne and Aleah James.
  • Freelance Wrestling on Friday night in Chicago had Tokyo Joshi Pro star Shoko Nakajima beat Shazza McKenzie in the main event of what we were told was an excellent match using a diving senton. The crowd gave the two a standing ovation.

UFC/MMA

  • While nothing will come of it, Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen knocked out Fabian Edwards in Dublin last night and then continued to yell at him afterward. Leon Edwards, the UFC welterweight champion and Fabian’s brother, then started yelling at Eblen and security got between them. Eblen did eventually shake hands with both Edwards brothers before leaving the cage.
  • Ian Machado Garry vs. Vicente Luque was announced for the 12/16 UFC PPV in Las Vegas. Also announced for that show is Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett and Stephen Thompson vs Shavkat Rakhmonov. Ferguson is on a long losing streak while Pimblett has a potential star personality but the reality thus far is that he has not come across like he’s going to be able to be a championship contending level fighter. The hope here is to get him a win over a totally faded big name.
  • Kelvin Gastelum returns to welterweight on the 12/2 UFC event against Sean Brady who is 15-1 and a ranked fighter.

Dolph Ziggler, Shelton Benjamin, Emma among several WWE releases

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Aliyah (Nhooph Al-Areebi), Rick Boogs (Eric Bugenhagen), Elias (Jeffrey Sciullo), Riddick Moss (Mike Rallis), Top Dolla (AJ Francis), Shelton Benjamin, and Dolph Ziggler (Nic Nemeth) have also been released by WWE. Aliyah and Benjamin announced their departures on social media, while the other releases were reported by Fightful.

“As of today I am no longer apart of WWE,” Aliyah wrote.

“I have been released from my wwe contract,” Benjamin wrote. “I thank @wwe staff, talent, and of course the fans for Everything. Something ends, something new Begins. Looking forward to my next Chapter”

Moss and Elias have confirmed their releases.

Mustafa Ali also announced on Thursday that he’s no longer working with WWE.

The releases come nine days after Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE became official.

**********

Less than a year after returning to the company, Emma has been released by WWE.

Emma (real name Tenille Dashwood) announced on Thursday that she’s no longer with WWE. She was previously released by WWE in 2017 but returned last October after five years away.

Earlier this morning, Emma called it a “dream” that WWE is holding Elimination Chamber in her home country of Australia next February. She then posted an update announcing her release.

“Oops nevermind,” Emma wrote. “I just got released… I am no longer with WWE.”

Emma made her return to WWE by answering a SmackDown Women’s Championship open challenge from Ronda Rousey in October 2022.

In 2023, Emma only wrestled nine matches. Her most recent match was a loss to Shayna Baszler on the July 10 episode of Raw.

Emma and Riddick Moss are engaged to be married. The couple revealed their engagement this June. They had been paired together on-screen for a period of time in WWE and worked a program against Karrion Kross and Scarlett.

Before her return to WWE last year, Emma worked for Impact Wrestling.

LA Knight to team with Rick Boogs on WWE SmackDown next week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

LA Knight is set for tag team action on next week’s episode of SmackDown.

WWE has announced that Knight will team up with Rick Boogs against The Street Profits on SmackDown next Friday (May 19). The match was set up by a confrontation that took place on The SmackDown LowDown.

Knight interrupted an interview with The Street Profits and told them that he could beat them no matter who his partner was. Since Boogs was in the locker room too, Knight called him over and announced that Boogs would be his partner.

The Street Profits moved to the SmackDown roster in the WWE Draft. Boogs also moved to SmackDown, while Knight remained on the brand.

SmackDown is taking place at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina next Friday. Here’s what’s been confirmed for the episode:

  • Face-to-face segment with Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa and Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
  • The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) vs. The LWO (Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar)
  • The Grayson Waller Effect with guest AJ Styles
  • The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch) vs. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson)
  • The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. LA Knight & Rick Boogs

WWE Main Event results: Bronson Reed vs. Dexter Lumis

Posted on by Josh Nason

The post-WrestleMania 39 edition of WWE Main Event has arrived, chock full of major angles. Not really, but this was taped this past Monday prior to WWE Raw at Staples Center in Los Angeles. And boy, what a show this was.

Rick Boogs defeated Cedric Alexander (w/ Shelton Benjamin)

Boogs was already in the ring awaiting Alexander as apparently, they were short on time with all the video packages to come to give the big man an entrance. Boogs was full of energy, flexing and yelling and doing more flexing and yelling anytime he put his power on display by throwing Alexander around.

Boogs used his power to do bicep curls with Benjamin followed by an overhead throw. Alexander didn’t seem to care for this as he wanted to get counted out, but Boogzseventually went out after him. Boogs very slowly pursued Alexander, but got distracted by Benjamin and eventually taken out by a spear while on the apron. By slowly, I mean a glacial pace.

Alexander went to work with rest holds and a front face lock, but Boogs tossed him overhead in a display of sheer power to regain the momentum. Eventually, Boogs got the win with a press into a slam of sorts for the pin and win in a relatively lifeless match.

Bronson Reed defeated Dexter Lumis

Lumis was looking to pick up his second straight win and second straight against a big man as he defeated Odyssey Jones on this show last week.

These two have a history going back to NXT when they first squared off during the 2019 NXT Breakout Tournament. This is their fourth ever singles match and Lumis has yet to pick up a win in this classic series.

I also couldn’t help but think what the future for these two will be given all the changes in WWE and their past being released.

This followed a similar pattern as the first match with Reed showing off his power to hold the advantage over Lumis, albeit in a much more athletic fashion. Reed missed a running back splash which gave Lumis an opening. He hit a big back suplex, kip up and a ledrop that got a very close near fall. 

In the end, Reed’s size was too much, countering a Lumis attack by simply running into him, then picking up the win after the Tsunami splash off the top.

Rick Boogs returns from injury on WWE Raw

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Rick Boogs returned to WWE on Monday’s Raw after a nearly 10-month injury absence. 

Boogs was introduced by Adam Pearce as a surprise opponent for The Miz in an impromptu match on Raw, where Boogs won with a press slam in under two minutes. 

Boogs was injured on night one of WrestleMania on April 2, 2022 in the show’s opening match. Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura were challenging The Usos for the SmackDown tag titles when he suffered a “torn quadriceps to patella tendon” as his right leg gave out while he had both Usos on his shoulders in a fireman’s carry.

Boogs underwent surgery to repair the injury in Birmingham, Alabama last April. Boogs had also suffered a serious leg injury earlier in his WWE career, as he also tore an ACL, MCL, and meniscus in 2017 while wrestling in NXT. 

Boogs made his SmackDown in-ring debut in August 2021 after he was called up to the main roster earlier in the year and paired with Nakamura. 

Between his NXT and main roster runs, Boogs appeared as “Joe Average” in a series of WWE-themed Old Spice commercials.

Rick Boogs undergoes surgery for injury suffered at WWE WrestleMania 38

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Rick Boogs has undergone surgery for the injury that he suffered in the opening match of WrestleMania 38.

Boogs suffered a “torn quadriceps to patella tendon” while he and Shinsuke Nakamura were challenging The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 38 night one last Saturday. PWInsider reported today that Boogs underwent successful surgery in Birmingham, Alabama earlier this week and is set to return home this weekend to begin the process of healing and rehabbing the injury.

During the SmackDown Tag Team title match at WrestleMania, Boogs’ right leg gave out when he had both of The Usos on his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position. Boogs immediately grabbed his knee after the injury and tagged out to Nakamura.

The match was cut short due to Boogs’ injury. Nakamura briefly faced both Usos on his own before being pinned after they hit the 1D.

Boogs wrote on Instagram after the injury:

From the highest of highs to lowest of lows. Having my beautiful wife with me to experience my first Wrestlemania. Getting the incredible opportunity to open the show! Being able to demonstrate brute strength in front of millions of viewers! Unfortunately, the doctor told me my quad was too strong for the tendon and it was flexing so hard, it ripped the tendon totally off the bone. I’m still incredibly grateful for the experience and for all the love and support. History proves I will come back bigger, better, and stronger. IT’S A MINDSET

Rick Boogs grateful ‘for all the love and support’ after WWE WrestleMania injury

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Despite suffering an injury in his first-ever WrestleMania match, Rick Boogs is keeping a positive attitude.

Boogs & Shinsuke Nakamura challenged The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team titles in the opening match of WrestleMania 38 night one on Saturday, but the match was cut short due to Boogs’ injury. When he had both Usos on his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position, Boogs’ right leg gave out.

Boogs immediately grabbed his knee after the injury. He tagged out to Nakamura, who briefly faced both Usos on his own until The Usos retained their titles with the 1D.

WWE has announced that Boogs suffered “a torn quadriceps to patella tendon” and will be undergoing surgery in the coming days.

Boogs commented on the injury in an Instagram post today, saying that he’s still incredibly grateful for the WrestleMania experience and for all the love and support he’s received. Boogs wrote that he plans on coming back bigger, better, and stronger:

From the highest of highs to lowest of lows. Having my beautiful wife with me to experience my first Wrestlemania. Getting the incredible opportunity to open the show! Being able to demonstrate brute strength in front of millions of viewers! Unfortunately, the doctor told me my quad was too strong for the tendon and it was flexing so hard, it ripped the tendon totally off the bone. I’m still incredibly grateful for the experience and for all the love and support. History proves I will come back bigger, better, and stronger. IT’S A MINDSET

Daily Update: WrestleMania Sunday, Google trends, Rick Boogs

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Triple H announces in-ring retirement, WrestleMania weekend

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is out right now. Among the highlights are:

  • The far more important story regarding Paul Levesque than his retirement from wrestling, which is his health, what he went through, and how that impacts his future both in and out of wrestling
  • WWE weekend shows, cards, ticket sales, secondary market sales, comps, Saturday main event, key results regarding the main event scene, the Hall of Fame, Shad Gaspard, Undertaker and NXT Stand & Deliver.
  • 2021 Shad Gaspard/Jonathan Huber award winners
  • New Japan Cup final coverage, the angles building to Sumo Hall, MVP, best match poll and the final two shows.
  • Stardom’s two shows at Sumo Hall. A look at the key matches and what is next for the largest women’s wrestling company in the world.
  • Finances of UFC and WWE, including how they are so similar as businesses as well as where they are different. We also look at the key business deal each has that doesn’t involve TV rights and how WWE got so much of a better deal with a product that otherwise would have driven one-quarter the revenue and why
  • Full coverage of this week’s UFC show
  • Who was the best college heavyweight of all-time
  • More on the arrest of Chael Sonnen, why the felony charge was dropped and the lawsuit regarding the case
  • Ric Flair and Mark Madden
  • TV ratings and key points from those ratings for every show this week including peak segments, what type of viewers each show generates, who draws the youngest audience and how the shows rank with all of television and in the sports world.
  • The return of the Universal champion of champions tournament
  • More notes on the second Triplemania show this year
  • Notes on New Japan US shows
  • The wrestling career and post-wrestling life of the former Rocky King
  • Ticket sales for upcoming shows
  • Why UFC is running in Singapore in June
  • UFC star elected into wrestilng Hall of Fame
  • International wrestling TV ratings

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter: February 7, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Royal Rumble review, business year in review

Ordering Info: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

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Sunday News Update

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight talking day two of WrestleMania, the Shad Gaspard/Jonathan Huber Memorial Award and the rest of the latest news. 

For the weekend, we’re doing polls, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle and a best and worst match to [email protected] for these shows:

  • ROH Supercard of Honor
  • NXT Stand & Deliver
  • Both nights of WrestleMania
  • There was far more interest in WrestleMania this year than the prior two years under COVID conditions. Google searches for WrestleMania as of yesterday were 1.55 million. A normal WWE or AEW PPV will do 200,000 to 300,000. it’s well below a a UFC event with big names. Like it may beat next week’s show but is well behind the Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal show. But it’s way above the last two years of Mania. The only thing over the weekend ahead was the Duke-North Carolina basketball game yesterday which topped five million. Other WWE topics in the top 20 yesterday were Cody Rhodes at No. 5, Undertaker at No. 9, Logan Paul at No. 10, Ronda Rousey at No. 18 and Bianca Belair at No. 19.
  • The show was very positively received last night, as was the ROH show on Friday. The two matches worth going out of your way to see are Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes and Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch. Rhodes did a ton of media. He didn’t answer the questions regarding leaving but shut down all talks of him being anything but a wrestler. He did make a deal that allows him to do outside media projects so it is different from the standard deal, or at least media projects he’s already started on or doing.
  • WrestleMania day two starts at 8 p.m. tonight:
  • *Sheamus & Ridge Holland vs. Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods. This is the match canceled last night because they played like a million videos and ran short on time. Feels like a standard match. Sheamus & Holland are -300 favorites.
  • *Four-way for the women’s tag titles with Zelina & Carmella defending against Naomi & Sasha Banks, Liv Morgan & Rhea Ripley, and Shayna Baszler & Natalya. Th odds had Naomi & Banks as the -200 favorites. Odds for the other three teams are Morgan & Ripley at +185, Zelina & Carmella at +500 and Baszler & Natalya at +750
  • *Omos vs. Bobby Lashley. Omos is undefeated going in and the -200 favorite. This match should be short and decisive because whoever wins should be programmed against Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar.
  • *Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville in an anything goes match. Knoxville has a great worker and I’m sure it’s all planned out with lots of gimmicks involved.Knoxville is a -300 favorite.
  • *Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory. Vince McMahon did show up in the angle yesterday. The finishes are either McMahon helps Theory win, or McAfee should win. McAfee is the -140 favorite.
  • *Randy Orton & Riddle defend the Raw tag titles against Chad Gable & Otis and Street Profits. This match on paper should be great. Orton & Riddle are over and a great team as each has strengths that the other doesn’t have which makes the team fun to watch. Gable is one of the best wrestlers in the company and Montez Ford does amazing things every week with his leaping ability so here you can expect something even more. Orton & Riddle are -150 to retain while the Street Profits are +150 and Alpha Academy is +400. The finish on Raw did make the Street Profits come off as heels so that’s something to watch for.
  • *A.J. Styles vs. Edge. On paper, this should challenge for the best match of WrestleMania this year. Edge is rarely not great. Styles hasn’t been put in a position like this to put on a classic in a long time and he can still do it if given that opportunity. Styles is a -160 favorite.
  • *Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns title vs. title to unify the titles. This is one of the best promoted Mania matches in many years. Maybe too much given the last several months have been all about these two dominating and destroying most of the rest of the top guys on the roster. Reigns is a -350 favorite, which is pretty sizable, especially since Lesnar is the babyface and Reigns won he first meeting. Reigns is the full-timer. But it’s also the biggest match for the company and to keep the match strong for the future, Lesnar should win one of them.
  • Regarding attendance, WrestleTix listed 65,709 last night. The building was set up for 66,106, as it is tonight, with the highest level seats not being put on sale. The paid for yesterday is not confirmed but 56,000 to 60,000 would be the likely range. Tickets for today have been very slightly behind but today’s paid is likely to end up very close to that.
  • For tonight, as of this morning, they were at 63,528 total tickets, out, both paid and comps. They will have some late buys. They upgraded a number of fans who had purchased less expensive seats because they had more than 1,100 floor tickets unsold as of Thursday. They will probably announce a similarly inflated number as last night. 
  • Rick Boogs was sent to Birmingham, AL, expected to before major knee and quad surgery. He was trying to squat with both Usos on his back and his knee and thigh went out. He suffered both a torn quad and a torn patella tendon.
  • A story on bidding to get WrestleMania is here.
  • AEW is sold out, and has been for weeks, at the Agannis Arena in Boston for Wednesday. It’s a building too small for them considering the interest level in the market as it’s set up for about 5,250 for wrestling. with a stage. FTR vs. Young Bucks for both the AAA and ROH tag titles along with Christian Cage vs. Adam Cole and Hardys vs. Butcher & Blade in a tables match are on top.
  • L.A. Park, L.A. Park Jr. and El Hijo de L.A. Park were all fired Friday morning by MLW after an incident where they went off script and for reasons nobody could give an answer to, busted up Jacob Fatu and Alex Hammerstone. They were sent home and pulled from the Friday night show. It was during an angle to build Park vs. Fatu that this happened.
  • Pat Kenney wanted to thank everyone for prayers and thoughts regarding his recent stroke. He said he is on the way back and said that people would see him in the NWA in April.

UFC

  • Kelvin Gastelum has pulled out of next Saturday’s UFC show. He said he was injured but was advised to not say what the injury was.
  • Uriah Hall, who was to be in the No. 2 fight on the 4/16 show against Andre Muniz, also pulled out with no reason given. They are looking for a new opponent for Muniz, underneath Belal Muhammad vs. Vicente Luque on top.
  • Katlyn Chookagian has signed a new deal with UFC and starts back on 5/14 against Amanda Ribas. Combate in Brazil first reported this.
  • The Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksander Rakic fight is now scheduled for 5/14.
  • Aleksei Oleinik vs. Jared Venderaa is slated for the 4/9 show. Vanderaa replaces Ilir Latifi, who pulled out of the fight with an undisclosed illness.
  • Andre Fili vs. Joanderson Brito was added to the 4/30 show.

Other Notes

  • Stardom had day one of the Cinderella tournament today from Tachikawa. It was a PPV show with 15 first round matches and one second round match. It’s a 31 person tournament. The matches today had 10:00 time limits and it’s single elimination. If the match goes to a draw, both people are eliminated. You can also win via over-the-top rope.
  • Unagi Sayaka b Hina
  • Saki Kashima b Waka Tsukiyama
  • Maika b Hanan
  • Mirai b Mina Shirakawa
  • Mayu Iwatani b Momo Kohgo
  • Natsupoi b Starlight Kid – over the top rope
  • Utami Hayashishita d Tam Nakano – both eliminated going to a 10:00 draw
  • Saya Kamitani d Maika- both eliminated by going over the top rope
  • Saya Iida b Rina
  • Koguma b Fukigen Death
  • Himeka b Ruaka
  • Hazuki b Miyu Amasaki
  • Giulia b Thekla
  • AZM b Momo Watanabe
  • Syuri b Ami Sorei with 12 seconds left in the match
  • Emily Ducote vs. Alesha Zappitella for the strawweight title headlines a 5/11 Invicta show. The location for the show and broadcast notes are to be announced.
  • PFL announced its second night of tournament play this year will be 4/28 from the Esports Stadium in Arlington, TX with these fights on ESPN 2:
  • Bruno Cappeloza (2021 heavyweight champion) vs. Stuart Austin
  • Brendan Loughnane vs.Ryuji Kudo
  • Ante Delija vs. Matheus Scheffel
  • Renen Ferreira vs. Jamelle Jones
  • Pro Wrestling Revolver on 4/16 in Clive, IA at the Horizon Events Center with Shane Strickland vs. Athena, Rich Swann vs. JT Dunn, Moose vs. Mike Bailey, Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards vs. Steve Maclin & Westin Blake, Jake Crist vs. Manders, Trey Miguel vs. Ace Austin vs. Blake Christian vs. Lince Dorado, Billie Starkz vs. Deonna Purrazzo and Jake Something vs. Madman Fulton vs. Jessicka Havok vs. Crash Jaxon vs. Beef vs. Grizzly Kal Jak.
  • The TV show Billions on Showtime had one of the characters say, “I’ve got to get in the zone to tangle with the only journalist who might get confused for George The Animal Steele.” (thanks to Joe Puccio)

Rick Boogs suffers injury in WWE WrestleMania opening match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE’s Rick Boogs suffered an apparent serious leg injury during the opening match of WrestleMania Saturday. 

Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura challenged the Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team titles in the opener. During a spot where he lifted both Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso in a fireman’s carry, Boogs’ right leg appeared to buckle, and he stayed on the floor for the remainder of the match after tagging out. 

The Usos retained the titles by pinning Nakamura after hitting a 1-D. Boogs then was carried to the back by WWE personnel. 

Michael Cole announced later in the broadcast that Boogs suffered a patella injury and a quadriceps injury and will be undergoing surgery to repair the damage within the next few days.

Dave Meltzer reports that a preliminary diagnosis indicated a torn quadriceps and a patella injury. 

Fans in the building posted photos of Boogs being carried out. 

The injury to Boogs appeared to cut the match short, as there was an additional video package shown between the end of the bout and the start of the next. The match’s finish may have also been changed as a result of the injury. 

Boogs suffered a serious knee injury early in his WWE NXT career, tearing his ACL, MCL, and meniscus in 2017 and missing more than a year of in-ring action

Boogs debuted in NXT in 2017 and wrestled there until 2020 under a variety of variations of his name. 

After appearing as Joe Average in a series of WWE-themed Old Spice commercials, Boogs was called up to the SmackDown brand in May 2021 and paired with Nakamura. 

Boogs made his SmackDown in-ring debut in August 2021.

SmackDown Tag Team title match set for WWE WrestleMania 38 night one

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The SmackDown Tag Team titles will be on the line on night one of WrestleMania 38.

WWE has announced that The Usos vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs for the SmackDown Tag Team titles will be part of the card for night one of WrestleMania 38. The match was made official after Boogs defeated Jey Uso in a singles match on last night’s SmackDown.

After being attacked by The Usos last week, Nakamura & Boogs interrupted The Usos on Friday’s SmackDown. The Usos noticed that Boogs’ leg was still wrapped up from the previous week’s attack, and they said they’d agree to give Nakamura & Boogs a title shot at WrestleMania if Boogs could defeat Jey in a singles match.

Jey went after Boogs’ leg when the match started, but Boogs took off the wrap and revealed that his leg wasn’t injured. Boogs was able to overcome interference by Jimmy Uso and hit a pumphandle slam on Jey to get the win.

As Boogs was celebrating his victory, Jimmy hit him in the back with a guitar.

The Usos have been SmackDown Tag Team Champions since winning the titles at Money in the Bank last July.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is hosting WrestleMania 38 on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3. The updated card for the event is listed below:

Night one (Saturday, April 2) —

  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defends against Ronda Rousey
  • Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defends against Bianca Belair
  • The KO Show with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
  • Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz & Logan Paul
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs

Night two (Sunday, April 3) —

  • Winner-take-all championship unification match: WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Universal Champion Roman Reigns
  • Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory
  • Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville
  • AJ Styles vs. Edge
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Queen Zelina & Carmella defend against Sasha Banks & Naomi and Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan in a triple threat match

SmackDown Tag Team title match added to WWE WrestleMania 38

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match for the SmackDown Tag Team titles is set for WrestleMania 38.

Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs will challenge The Usos for the titles following an angle that took place on tonight’s SmackDown. Boogs defeated Jey Uso in a match that gave him and Nakamura the opportunity to challenge for the titles.

Boogs and Nakamura interrupted The Usos on tonight’s show, with Boogs saying they were the next SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Jimmy brought to attention Boogs’ knee injury. He told Boogs that if he could beat Jey Uso in a match, he and Nakamura would get the title shot. Boogs proceeded to reveal that the injury was a ruse once the bell rang and quickly defeated Jey. After the match, Jimmy attacked Boogs with Boogs’ own guitar.

Here is the current lineup for this year’s WrestleMania, a two night event:

Night one (Saturday, April 2) —

  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defends against Ronda Rousey
  • Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defends against Bianca Belair
  • Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz & Logan Paul
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin
  • KO Show with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin

Night two (Sunday, April 3) —

  • Winner-take-all championship unification match: WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Universal Champion Roman Reigns
  • Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory
  • Sami Zayn vs. Johnny Knoxville
  • AJ Styles vs. Edge
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Carmella & Zelina Vega defend against Sasha Banks & Naomi and Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan

Also announced–

  • SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs

Goldberg appearance, In-Zayn segment added to WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A pair of segments have been added to tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

WWE has announced that Goldberg will appear on tonight’s show ahead of his upcoming Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns. Goldberg is challenging for Reigns’ title at Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 19.

Goldberg returned to WWE television on last week’s SmackDown and challenged Reigns to the Universal Championship match. Goldberg said he acknowledges Reigns — as his next victim.

Elimination Chamber will be the first time Goldberg has wrestled since defeating Bobby Lashley in a no holds barred, falls count anywhere match at Crown Jewel last October.

An “In-Zayn” segment with Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs appearing as Sami Zayn’s guest is also set for tonight’s SmackDown. Nakamura is set to defend his Intercontinental title against Zayn on SmackDown next week.

In-Zayn began as a stunt show before being turned into a “live podcast.”

The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana is hosting tonight’s SmackDown. Next Friday’s Elimination Chamber go-home edition of the show is also being taped at the Smoothie King Center tonight. That episode needed to be taped in advance due to the travel schedule with Elimination Chamber being in Saudi Arabia.

Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s SmackDown:

  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defends against Naomi
  • Goldberg appears
  • Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs will appear on In-Zayn with Sami Zayn
  • Aliyah vs. Natalya in a “Dungeon-style” match (the match can only be won by pinfall or submission)